A coepobation of dela



INVENTOR V k flan/4y l1 5? A TTORNEY 2 SHEEIS-SHEEI I.

H. W. BELL. FLEXIBLE COUPLING. ORIGINAL FILED AUG 29,1922

Jan; 9, 1923.

Jan. 9, 1923.

- H. w. BELL.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING. ORIGINAL FILED AUG.29. 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN VENTOR A WM A TTORNE Y Reissued Jan. 9, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY W. BELL, OF ARDSLEY-ON-THE-HUDSON, NEW YORK, .AQSIGNOR TO THE BELOYT COREPORATION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE, A. CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

FLEXIBLE COUPLING.

Original No. 1,427,185, dated August 29, 1922, Serial No. 395,266, filed July 10, 1920.. Application for reissue filed September 8, 1922. Serial No. 586,959.

To allwhonmlt-mag concem:

Be'it known that I, HARVEY lV. BELL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Ardsley-on-the-Hudson, \Vestchester County, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Flexible Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to couplings between non-rigidly connected parts such as the supporting springs and the vehicle bodies of motor cars. f

The objectsofthe invention are to provide a pivoting connection between such parts as the springs and car body which will allow the necessary freedom of pivotal movement, but which will restrain sidewise or fore and aft movements, which will be noiseless in its operation and will require no lubrication or other special attention. I

Other objects are to provide a coupling of this character which will be relatively simple and strong, durable and lasting, practical and inexpensive and which will add to the easy riding qualities of the car.

These various objects I have accomplished by certain novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts, as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the invention embodied in several different forms and used in various relations, but wish it understood that the invention may be modified in structure and be adapted to other than the uses illustrated, without departure from the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

In the drawings referred to:

Fig. 1 is a broken View of a form of the device used as a front end spring connection.

Fig. .2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, as taken on substantially'the plane of line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom and broken plan View of the construction of Fig. 1, modified to the extent that the flexible supporting link is turned at a. right angle instead of parallel to the spring. K

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are more or less diagrammatic views illustrating the use of the in vention in different relations and with different types of spring suspension, Fig. 4 being a completed view of the front end spring suspension of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 being a similar v ew of a typical rear end suspension and Fig. 6 illustrating a suspension of the cantilever type. I

' In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, a pivotal connection is afforded bet-ween the spring and the vehicle body by a substantially horizontally disposed link which is rigidly secured at its opposite ends to one of the members to be'coupled and which is rigidly engaged by the other member at its intermediate portion. This link is preferably made of thermoid or material of a similar character, which is freely flexible in a direction transverse to its flat plane, but which is strongly resistant to flexure in its own plane.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the flexible link as made up of a plurality of superposed strips 7 secured in spaced apart relation by interposedclamping washers 8. These strips are rigidly clamped at their opposite ends tothe arms 9, 10 of an arch shaped bracket 11 which, in this particular instance, is secured to the side sill or frame member 12 of the vehicle.

The clamps for the ends of the link are afforded in the present illustration by providing pads 13 at the ends of the arms of the yoke or arch with which cooperate the movable clamp plates 14, said movable plates being secured by suitable fastening bolts 15 or 16. Fastenings 15 are shown in the form called semi-elliptic type. The front end of this spring is rigidly secured togthe intermediate portion of the flexible link between the rigidly held ends thereof by a clamp consisting of a clamp plate 19 secured by the U- bolt 20 to the bracket or pad 21 which is suitably secured to the upper leaf of the spring as by means of rivets 22. The spacing washers 8 may be also interposed between the; layers of the link at this intermediate clamp.

The clamps are shown formed with flarsidewise or lateral .tion ofits flat plane.

ing or curved bearings 23 for the flexure of the adjacent free portions of the strips so as to avoid abrasion or cutting of the strips at the points of emergence from theclamps.

This construction allows for the necessary freedom of pivotalmovement for the front end of the spring and at the same time effectually overcomes the tendencies to fore and aft and lateral swaying movements. The flexible sustaining link is initially stretched flat and put-under suflicient tension to enable it to resist these movements which it is desired to control, but this tension is not suflicient to stop the pivotal movements described.

The sustainin link -may stretch or sag somewhat with ong continued usage and to take care of this possibility, I have provided a bumper or cushioning member at 24 seated in a socket 25 in the arch bracket directly above the intermediate clamp and arranged to be engaged thereby. This bumper may be made of rubber-or other material and serves as a check to the stretching movement of the link and also at times may serve to take the whole or a part .of the load off this link, to thereby operate as a supplemental bearing.

sustaining link extends longitudina-llv or parallel to the spring. This link may, however, be turned around at an angle to the spring, as indicated generally in Fig. 3. This construction has certain advantages,

particularly in checking side sway.

illustrated a complete In Fig. 4 I have front spring installation in which the front end of the spring is connected with the frame by the yielding pivotal coupling described and which the rear end of this spring is connected with the frame by means ofa suspension link 26,. of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 363,- 189, and which is rigidly secured at one end to the' spring b a clamp 27 and is rigidly secured to the mine at its a clamp 28. This link will flex free] in a direction at right angles to its fiat p ane and like the links first herein described, resist movement in the direc- The combination of these two couplings provides an extremely intermediate is coupledto flexible mounting which allows free movement of the spring and restrains the lateral and other objectionable movements.

In Fig. 5 I have ShONVIl the same relation of couplings applied to a rear spring of semi elliptic form. In this case, however, the

suspension link is located at the rear end of i the frame and the pivoting link is used to connect the front end of the spring with an portion of the frame.

In F g. 6 I have illustrated the inventionas applied to a spring of the cantilever type.

ere the intermediate portion of the spring the frame by one of the piv0topposite end by ingsustainin'g links and the forward end of the spring is connected with the frame by springs comprising an arched bracket for attachment to one of the members to be coupled and provided with clamps at the opposite ends thereof, a substantially flat flexible link rigidly held at its opposite ends by said clamps. and a clamp for rigidly securing the other member to .the intermediate portion of the flexible link.

3. A coupling for vehicle bodies and springs comprising an arched bracket for coupled and provided with clamps at the opposite ends thereof, a substantially flat flexible link rigidly held at its opposite ends by said clamps, a clamp for rigidly securing the other member to the intermediate portion of'the flexible link and a cushioning element carried by the arched bracket and positioned to be engaged by the intermediate clamp aforesaid.

4. The combination with a vehicle body and a supporting spring therefor, of a coupling for said members comprising a substantially horizontal flat link flexible transversely to the flat plane thereof but strongly resistant to flexure in the plane thereof, means forrigidly securing the opposite ends of said link to one of the members and means for rigidly connecting the other member to said link at a. point between the rigidly held ends thereof.

5. The combination with a vehicle body and a supporting spring therefor, of a couplin for said members comprising a substantia y horizontal fiat link flexible transversely to the flat plane thereof but strongly resistant to flexure in the plane thereof, means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of said link to one of the members, means for rigidly connecting the other member to said link at a point between the rigidly held ends thereof and a bumper positioned to receive the thrust of the intermediate connection aforesaid.

6. The combination ofa vehicle body and a supporting spring. of a coupling for said members comprising a substantially horizontal fiat link flexible transversely of the plane thereof and. resistant to flexure in its attachment to one of the .members to be In the first construction illustrated, the

own plane, means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of said link to one of the members, means for rigidly securing the other member to the link at a point between the rigidly held ends thereof and means for automatically relieving said link of .a portion of the load thereon.

7. A pivotal connection between the spring and body of a vehicle comprising a substantially horizontal relatively flat link strongly resistant to flexure in the flat plane thereof but flexible in a plane transverse thereto,

means for rigidly securing the opposite ends I of said link to one of the members aforesaid and with the link stretched out flat under tension andmeans for rigidly securing the other member to the intermediate portion of the link between the rigidly held ends thereof, whereby said intermediate connection may pivot to the extent permitted by the transverse flexure of the link but is restrained against lateral shifting movement by the non-flexible character of the link in the flat plane thereof.

8. A pivotal connection between the spring and body of a vehicle comprising a substantially horizontal relatively flat link strongly resistant to flexure in the flat plane thereof but flexible in a plane transverse thereto, means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of saidlink to one of the members aforesaid and with the link stretched out flat under tension, means for rigidly securing the other member to the intermediate portion of the link between the rigidly held ends thereof, whereby said intermediate connection may pivot to the extent permitted by the transverse flexure of the link but is restrained against lateral shifting movement by thenon-flexible character of the link in theflat plane thereof and means for automatically relieving said link of a portion of the load in the event of sagging or overloading of the same.

. 9. A pivotal connection between the spring and body of a vehicle comprising a substantially horizontal relatively flat link strongly resistant to flexure in the flat plane thereof but flexible in a plane transverse thereto, means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of said link to one of the members aforesaid and with the link stretched outflat under tension and means for rigidly securing the other member to the intermediate portion of the link between the rigidly held ends thereof, whereby said intermediate connection may pivot to the extent permitted by the transverse flexure of the link but is restrained against lateral shifting movement by the non-flexible character of the link in the flat plane thereof, said pivotal connection serving to couple one end of the spring to the vehicle body'and a suspension connection between the opposite end of the spring and the vehicle body consisting of a substantially flat vertically disposed link rigidly secured at one end to the spring and rigidly secured at the: opposite end to the vehicle body, said link also being resistant to flexure in the plane thereof but flexible transversely to such plane.

10. The combination with a vehicle body "flat substantially horizontally disposed flexible link rigidly held at its opposite ends to one of the members and rigidly connected at a point intermediate its ends to the other member.

' 11.,The combination with a vehicle body and a supporting spring therefor, of a coupling between one end of the spring and the vehicle body comprising a relatively flat suspension link rigidly held at its opposite ends and substantially non-flexible in the plane thereof but freely flexible in a plane transverse to the flat plane, a pivoting connection between the opposite end of the spring and the vehicle body comprising a relatively flat substantially horizontally disposed flexible link rigidly held at its opposite ends to one of the members and rigidly connected at a point intermediate its ends to the other member and means for automatically cushioning excessive movements of said intermediate connection.

12. A coupling for vehicle bodies and springs comprising a flat link flexible transversely to the plane thereof and substantially non-flexible in its own plane, means for rigidly securing the opposite ends of said flexible link in substantially horizontal relation to one of the members to be coupled, means for rigidly connecting the other member to the intermediate portion of said link and a bearing for said intermediate portion of the link. I

13. A supporting member, another member carried thereby and a flexible connection between said members comprising a link of flexible material rigidly secured and fixedl held at its opposite ends to one of said members and a connection between the other inelmber and an intermediate portion of the 14. In combination, a vehicle frame member, a member carried thereby, and means for coupling said members comprising a link of flexlble material rigidly secured and fixedly held at its opposite ends to one of said members and having an intermediate portion attached to the other member.

15. In combination, a frame, a member ing member comprising a flexible element rigidly sec uredand fixedly held at spacedpoints to said bracket and a connection intermediate said spaced flexible lement and said cooperating member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of September, 1922.

HARVEY W. BELL.

points between said 

